Can you remember times when your friend got overly worried or upset about something that didn’t really matter? You’d probably wanted to tell them to “calm down.”
In British English, people often say, “Don’t get your knickers in a twist” in such situations.
If you’re looking for a fun alternative with a similar tone, many people use the American phrase, “Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
However, to keep things simple and clear, it’s a good idea to skip confusing idioms. In this article, you’ll discover 20 creative and interesting ways to say, “Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
Key Takeaways
- If you want a simple, easy-to-understand alternative to the idiom “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, ” then tell the person “Relax; it’s not a big deal.”
- You can still use that playful, figurative element by saying “Don’t fly off the handle” or “Simmer down.”
- For a more formal, yet creative alternative, you can say “Don’t sweat it” or “keep it together.”
If English isn’t the main language where you’re from, the phrase “don’t get your knickers in a twist” might come across as offensive, especially to women.
The aim is to find a different way to say “Don’t worry” that’s just as playful and humorous.
But avoid the usual phrases like “chill” or “relax” and similar ones—they’re too common.
Before choosing an alternative, it’s important to understand the key meaning behind the original idiom.
Context Matters: “Don’t Get Your Knickers In a Twist” Meaning
The British phrase “knickers in a twist” dates back to at least 1969. It refers to women’s or girls’ underwear getting twisted, which can be uncomfortable and irritating.
The saying is often used to calm someone down when they’re overly flustered or upset about something trivial.
In such situations, you might hear, “Don’t get your knickers in a twist,” with “knickers” meaning underpants.
However, the Collins Dictionary gives a more modern take. It defines the idiom as someone getting annoyed or upset without a valid reason.
Best Substitutes For “Don’t Get Your Knickers In A Twist”
- Don’t lose your cool.
- Keep your shirt on.
- Take it easy.
- Don’t blow a gasket.
- Stay calm and collected.
- Relax; it’s not a big deal.
- Don’t fly off the handle.
- Simmer down.
- Chill out.
- No need to freak out.
- Don’t get worked up.
- Keep it together.
- Don’t sweat it.
- Cool your jets.
- Hold your horses.
- Don’t get bent out of shape.
- Calm your nerves.
- Don’t let it ruffle your feathers.
- Take a chill pill.
- Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill.
The phrase “don’t get your knickers in a twist” is quite popular among the British.
A survey of 2,000 adults revealed some of their favorite uniquely British expressions, including this one, along with others like “it’s all gone pear-shaped” and “the bee’s knees.”
If you’re talking to someone who isn’t British, you might want to find an alternative for this commonly used phrase.
Before choosing from the options mentioned earlier, take a look at the following sections to understand the best situations for using each alternative.
1. Don’t lose your cool
Telling someone not to lose their cool means they should maintain a calm and controlled attitude. This is the core message behind the idiom “don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
In other words, the statement “don’t lose your cool” is a clearer and more straightforward alternative to the idiom.
You can use this substitute in a formal setting since it’s easy to understand. But it will apply for any situation, really.
2. Keep your shirt on
Just as how the phrase “don’t get your knickers in a twist” is idiomatic, the statement “Keep your shirt on” also has a figurative element.
Those two expressions go hand in hand because “Keep your shirt on” means to stay calm and be patient.
So, you can use it in a scenario where you want the person not to give way to temper or excitement.
3. Take it easy
If you’re looking for a simple and short alternative, just tell them to “take it easy” instead of using idioms that can make people misunderstand you.
When you tell someone to take it easy, you want them not to fuss about an issue.
This is especially befitting when the matter is about the person feeling frustrated or vexed.
It’s another way to tell them “Calm down” without using those actual words.
4. Don’t blow a gasket
Sometimes, it’s better to still use idiomatic expressions when communicating. It adds spice to our statements.
That’s why it still makes sense to tell someone “Don’t blow a gasket.” It carries a similar meaning as with “don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
This is because blowing a gasket means bursting out in anger.
5. Stay calm and collected
“Stay calm and collected” sounds rhythmic but direct. If you need a clear alternative for the idiom “don’t get your knickers in a twist” then this is a perfect substitute.
The message is to remind someone not to stress or worry about small, unimportant things.
It’s a gentle way to suggest they relax, especially if you notice they’re getting worked up over something that doesn’t really matter.
6. Relax; it’s not a big deal
“Relax; it’s not a big deal” is another simple way to tell someone to stay calm. It’s clearer than using figurative expressions.
Using this alternative is perfect for situations where they might be stressing over something small or unimportant.
Another advantage is that this statement is easy to understand and works in both casual and more serious conversations.
It’s a kind way to remind them not to worry too much and helps lighten the mood when things feel more intense than they really are.
7. Don’t fly off the handle
The statement “Don’t fly off the handle” is a way to advise someone not to lose their temper suddenly and unexpectedly.
It shares a lot of similarity with the idiom “don’t get your knickers in a twist” which is why you can use both statements interchangeably.
However, this substitute will work best for a scenario where the person is not “worried” but actually “angry” or “grumpy” over unnecessary things.
8. Simmer down
Assuming the person is already worrying or has had an outburst over a trivial matter, it’s a little too late to tell them “don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
It’s more effective when you say “simmer down.” This phrase means to become less angry or excited about something.
You can use the alternative when you want the person to become calm or peaceful, especially after a period of anger or excitement.
9. Chill out
The core message behind “getting your knickers in a twist” is becoming furious about something less important. When you’re furious, you’re “hot” as in range.
When someone tells you to relax, they also mean you should “chill”
With this line of thought, you can tell the person “chill out” and still be accurate as with saying “don’t get your knickers in a twist”
10. No need to freak out
Another interesting way you can say “don’t get your knickers in a twist” is to tell the person not to freak out.
When someone freaks out, it means they make a wildly irrational reaction or behaviour. And in many cases, it’s a freak out over less important issues.
So it carries the same core message as the original idiom which is why each phrase can replace each other without any deviation from context.
11. Don’t get worked up
You can also tell the person “don’t get worked up” instead of using idioms.
This is the kind of statement you can use for someone who isn’t a native english speaker. The downside of this alternative statement is that it lacks that humorous or playful tone that comes with the original idiom.
But if the priority is to be clear, then the whole figurative expression flair wouldn’t matter much. So you can go for it.
12. Keep it together
“Keep it together” is another great way to express the same idea of not getting “knickers in a twist”
It means staying calm and not letting emotions take over, especially when things are getting stressful or overwhelming.
“Keep it together” is similar to telling someone not to freak out because both encourage maintaining control and not overreacting.
13. Don’t sweat it
“Don’t sweat it” is another casual way to tell someone not to worry or get upset over something small or unimportant.
This alternative statement suggests that they should remain calm and not let the situation stress them out.
It’s similar to saying “don’t get your knickers in a twist”, especially when you consider how both phrases encourage not overreacting to a situation.
14. Cool your jets
If the person is getting too worked up or impatient about something, you can tell them to cool their jets.
It sounds casual and creative.
The phrase means that they should slow down and take a moment to regain control.
Like the idiom “Don’t get your knickers in a twist”, the statement “cool your jets” means the person should stop overreacting and approach the situation with a more composed attitude.
15. Hold your horses
You can use the idiom “hold your horses” instead. It sounds more befitting especially when the person is acting too quickly or impatiently.
So you can use this idiom to casually suggest that they need to slow down or be patient before taking action.
It’s important that we all pause and think before making decisions sometimes.
16. Don’t get bent out of shape
When someone is bent out of shape, they are angry or agitated. It’s the same description of emotion when you say someone has their knickers in a twist.
In other words, you can replace that idiom with “don’t get bent out of shape”
17. Calm your nerves
If the person is feeling stressed or uneasy about a situation (important or not), you can tell them “Calm your nerves”
It has some “I care about You” undertones.
Using this substitute phrase means you want the person to regain their composure and not let their emotions take over.
18. Don’t let it ruffle your feathers
Instead of saying “don’t get your knickers in a twist” you can focus on the impact of such action and pick the expression from that angle.
That’s why it still makes sense when you say “Don’t let it (the situation) ruffle your feathers”
19. Take a chill pill
“Take a chill pill” is a playful way of telling someone to relax and calm down. So it sounds like another fantastic alternative for the idiom “don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
It’s often used when someone is getting overly stressed, upset, or worked up over something minor.
20. Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill
“Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill” means that we shouldn’t make a big deal out of something small or insignificant.
The idiom uses the idea of turning a tiny molehill (a small, harmless bump in the ground) into a huge mountain, which is an unnecessary and exaggerated reaction.
You can use this substitute when your intention is to advise the person against blowing things out of proportion.
The Bottom Line
Having different ways to say “don’t get your knickers in a twist” can help you communicate better, depending on who you’re talking to and the situation.
For casual conversations, playful phrases work well. In professional settings, it’s better to avoid idioms entirely and use straightforward language.
Neutral options like “Take it easy, it’s not a big deal” are less likely to offend, especially when speaking with formal or unfamiliar audiences.
Phrases like “Don’t freak out” often connect more with younger or modern listeners.
The main point is choosing the right words to match the tone, audience, and seriousness of the situation.
